THE PRESCRIPTION STIMULANT DRUG CRISIS: A STUDY OF MISUSE AND ABUSE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
Open Access
- Author:
- Sorbo, Paul Patrick
- Area of Honors:
- Health Policy and Administration
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dennis G Shea, Thesis Supervisor
Selena E Ortiz, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Prescription Stimulants
Misuse
Abuse
College Students
Health Policy and Administration - Abstract:
- PURPOSE: This thesis examines the relationship between a student’s social life and out of class activities as it relates to prescription stimulant misuse and abuse. Specifically, it investigates whether prescription stimulant use differs between the student organizations on campus and if the usage differs among more socially active students. This thesis also investigates if students are misusing and abusing prescription stimulants as a result of their obligation to their peers. METHODS: A web-based survey was administered at The Pennsylvania State University during the end of November and early December of 2018. The survey was sent through an email list-serv from seven different faculty members to their respective classes. In order to participate in the survey, the respondent had to be at least 18 years old and less than 25 years old, be currently enrolled as a Penn State student at the University Park campus. RESULTS: The survey had a sample size of 1,036 total respondents with 206 (19.9%) being non-medical users. Statistical analysis showed respondents diverted their medical prescription to help a friend (68.9%) or to make money (73.8%). Students misused to concentrate better while studying (43.7%) and to be able to study longer (45.5%). Non-Hispanic white students had a 10% greater probability, students with a GPA of 2.51 – 3.0 had a 13% greater probability, and first generation students had a 6% greater probability to misuse prescription stimulants. All three of these results were statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level. CONCLUSION: Prescription stimulant misuse and abuse is occurring at Penn State at a rate similar to rates found at other major universities. There is a strong relationship between misuse and academic school work. Students who are non-medical users are socially active, and involved in Greek-lettered or academic organizations. Further underlying reasons need to be examined in greater detail to understand additional factors into misuse/abuse.